Alexis Tam attends UN conference on tourism and culture

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng attended the first ever World Conference on Tourism and Culture along with over 1,100 participants, which included some 40 tourism and culture ministers from various parts of the world.
Mr. Tam said that Macau may enjoy a reputation for gambling but in point of fact the combination of culture and tourism is Macau’s main attraction. He added it is also the SAR Government’s goal to better protect cultural heritage as well as building the partnership between culture and  tourism.
Convened to bring together Ministers of Tourism and Ministers of Culture to identify key opportunities and challenges for stronger co-operation between the fields, two United Nations agencies launched the First World Conference on Tourism and Culture on Wednesday in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
The Conference, run by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to address the overlap between culture and tourism, tackling the question of how to harness the power of tourism and culture to alleviate poverty, create jobs, protect natural and cultural heritage and promote international understanding.